BOCA RATON, Fla., Nov. 23 (UPI) -- Florida authorities say they are hunting for a wild and possibly rabid otter that attacked two people and a dog in a housing tract near Boca Raton.
Animal Care & Control and the Palm Beach County Health Department issued an alert Monday about the aggressive animal, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported.
The otter reportedly attacked a golden retriever on Thursday and tried to attack it again Friday before its owner whisked the dog to safety, the newspaper said.
On Sunday morning it attacked two people in two separate incidents, authorities said.
"The otter ran out and attacked the two people unprovoked," Animal Control spokeswoman Karen Buchan said.
The Boca Chase development west of Boca Raton has several bodies of water the otter, indigenous to Florida, could have come from, authorities said.
Animal Control officials say they have set out traps baited with tuna fish.
While rabies is suspected, they say, it cannot be confirmed until the animal is captured and tested.
